Blank feeding mechanism



April 24, 1934. e. A. ROBINSON BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM OriginalFiled'Jan. 4, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 tmw Hlll mlln.

famwww, fiu'a/m Max/m attorneys 3 nventor A ril 24, 1934. s. A. ROBINSONBLANK FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed Jan. 4 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aali i Q. Hm

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April 24, 1934.

5. A. ROBINSON 1,956,475

BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed Jan. 4, 1927 55heets-She'et 5(Ittorneg April 24, 1934.

G. A. ROBINSON N MECHANI SM Original Filed Jan. 4, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 4April 24, 1934. A, ROBlNsON 1,956,475

- BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed Jan. 4. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 5Snventor gun Wand/ow. y [mwwn/Mm wad/6526a.

Patented Apr. 2 4, 1934 STES FiC E BLANK FEEDENG MECHANISM of MichiganOriginal application January 4, 1927, Serial No. 158,978. Divided andthis application May 17, 1928, Serial No. 278,582

18 Claims.

This invention relates to blank feeding mechanisrn adapted for feedingblanks to a carton making machine or to any other instrumentality withwhich the use of blank feeding mechanism is desirable.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide mechanismwhich embodies feeding devices for the blanks that contribute to greaterspeed, accuracy and efficiency of the blank feeding means; which insuresthe handling of a great number of blanks and consequently a prolongedoperation of the machine with one load of blanks; which requires minimumattention by the operator and less frequent adjustments of the operatingparts; and which is an expeditious and practical mechanism for feedingblanks, that may be operated at high speed and is well adapted for usewith package making machinery, especially where quantity production isdesired.

The present application is a division of the application which resultedin Patent No. 1,674,921, granted June 26, 1928, and the invention hereindiscloseu and claimed will be better understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings which -illustrate one embodiment of the inventiveidea,

and wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughoutthe several views.

In said drawingsl is a side elevation of the blank feeding mechanism;

Fig. 2 is enlarged detail perspective view of a pile elevator, a blankfeeding roller, and a de tector device of the blank feeding mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing details 'of the detectordevice;

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View showing the blank feeding roller andthe receiving end of a blank carrying conveyor;

Fig. 4a is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the delivery end of saidconveyor, together with blank registering devices;

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective View of the blank carrying conveyorshowing a flap bender and a turning roll associated therewith; and

6 a detail perspective view of parts of driving connections for theblank feeding mechanism and the clutch for controlling the same.

The bl nk feeding mechanism of the present invention may be used withany instrumentality to which it is desired to feed blanks, and as hereindisclosed, said mechanism is associated with, and preferably drivenfrom, a carton making machine. The carton making machine forms no 5 partof the present invention and it is therefore unnecessary to illustrateand describe the same in detail. It is sufficient to note that thecarton making machine includes the side frames 53" for supporting thecarton making and conveying instrmnentalities (not shown) which,together with the blank feeding mechanism, are driven and controlledthrough the medium of the following devices.

Mounted in suitable bearings on the side frames 53" is a shaft 22 thatis provided with a pulley 23 which may be driven from any suitablesource of power 24 through a belt 25 that passes around a pulley 26fixed on a shaft 27. The shaft 27 is journalled in suitable bearings onthe side frames 53" and carries a pulley 28 around which passes a belt29 that also passes around the pulley 23 and thereby drives the shaft22. Mounted loosely on the shaft 22 is a clutch drum 30 of any suitableconstruction which carries a pinion gear 31 (Figs. 1 and 6) A clutchring 32, mounted fast on shaft 22, is adapted to be frictionally engagedwith the clutch drum 30 through the action of a clutch lever 33, todrive the clutch drum 30 and the pinion 31 with the shaft 22. The pinion31 engages a gear 34 mounted on a shaft 35 that is journalled insuitable bearings on the side frames 53". The outer end of shaft 35carries a sprocket 36 adjustably secured to a disk 3'? fixed on theshaft 35. A sprocket chain 38, which passes around the sprocket 36, alsopasses around a sprocket 39 mounted on the main driving shaft 60 of theblank feeding mechanism, and thus serves to drive the various movableparts of said mechanism through said shaft.

The stack or pile of blanks A is supported vertically on an elevatorplate 40 and held on two corners by guides 41, 42 (Fig. 2). The elevatorplate 40 is carried by four chains, two on either side of the elevator,which chains are indicated at 43 and 44. These chains pass over suitablesprockets 45, 46 which are mounted on shafts 4'7 and 48, respectively,driven by suitable mech-- anism to elevate the stack of carton blanks asthey are withdrawn from the top thereof. The top of the stack of cartonblanks is further retained in proper position by guide plates 49 and 50which extend the full width of the stack and slightly to the rear of thesame. The side guides 41 and 42 are held in proper position at theirlower ends by bolts which hold them against the base plate 51 of theelevator, and are held at their upper ends by a cross rod 52 mounted ona stationary part of the machine. The side plates 49 and 50 are furtherheld in position by rods 53 and 54, the outer ends of which are fas-.

tened to machine frame pieces 53 and 54. Each of these frame pieces issupported on a frame piece 53" (Fig. l) disposed at one side of themachine and in turn supported on one of the side frames 53 of the cartonmaking machine and on one of the legs 54 disposed adjacent the forwardends of said side frames. The elevator plate rests upon square bars 55and 56 which hang on the ends of the chains as and 44, respectively,grooved projections 40 and 40 on the elevator plate 40 resting on thebars 55 and 56 respectively.

The topmost blank B in the stack of carton blanks is fed from the pileby means of a friction roller 57 (Fig. 2) which is a rubber coveredroller that is maintained in positive contact with the top of the stack.This feeding roller 5'7 is carried on a shaft 58 (Figs. 2 and 4) and isrotated intermittently at definite fixed intervals to feed the topmostblank off the stack in a lateral direction. The shaft 58 is carried insuitable bearings on a yoke 59, the yoke 59 being supported on the shaft60 which is mounted in suitable bearings on the frame pieces 53 and 54.The yoke 59 is loosely mounted on shaft 60 forwardly of the roller 5'?so that the weight of said yoke will be applied on the roller 57forwardly thereof and hold said roller under pressure against the top ofthe stack of blanks. Suitable stops (not shown) are provided to limitthe down ward movement of the yoke 59. It is extremely desirable, forthe positive feeding of the topmost blank, that the pressure of thefeeding roller 57 be maintained constant thereon. It has been found inpractice that the carton blanks do not pile up in the stack uniformly atall times and thatthere is a difference in the regularity of the surfaceso that the topmost blanks in the stack do not lie perfectly level butthat the surface is somewhat wavy and curved. In View of this fact, ifthe detector finger 61, which determines the height of the stack, restson the pile of carton blanks, there is found to be a variation in thepressure of the feed roller 5'7 on the top of the pile. It has thereforebeen found desirable to associate the detector finger directly with thefeed roll shaft 58, so that the'stack of cartons will be fed upwarduntil the feed roll has been raised to a definite position which willinsure maintaining of the pressure of this roll constant at all times onthe top of the stack. The elevation of the stack or pile of cartons iscontrolled by the detector finger 61 through the following mech anism.

Mounted on the shafts l7 and 48 are bevel gears 62 and 63. A shaft 64,carried in suitable bearings on the frame pieces 53', 5% extendstransversely of the machine and carries bevel pinions 65 and 66 whichengage the gears 62 and 63 respectively. Mounted loose on shaft as is anarm 67 provided with a spring actuated pawl 68 which engages a ratchet69 mounted fast on shaft 64. The arm 67 is rocked on shaft 64 by meansof a connecting rod '70, one end of which is attached to the arm 67 andthe other end to an arm 71. Arm '71 is mounted intermediate its ends ona stud '72 secured to the frame piece 54', said arm being rocked aboutits pivot through the action of a cam '73 mounted on shaft 7 Ljournalled in suitable bearings on the frame piece 54!. Shaft '74 isconstantly rotated through suitable driving connections from the shaft60. These driv ing connections comprise a bevel gear '75 (Fig. 4)mounted fast on shaft 60 and a bevel gear 76 mounted on a vertical shaft77 carried in a suitable bearing 78 on the frame piece 54'. The shaft7'? carries at its lower end a bevel gear 7Q which meshes with a bevelgear 80 mounted on shaft 74. The shaft '74 is a time shaft and makes onecomplete revolution for each cycle of operation of the machine. Therocking of the arm 67, through the engagement of the pawl 68 with theratchet 69, causes the shaft 64 to be rotated slightly and through theaction of the bevel gears 52, 63, 65 and 66, causes the shaft 47 and 48to be rotated so that the elevator chains 43 and 44 raise the elevatorand the stack of cartons. A pawl 81 mounted on a cross-shaft 82journalled in suitable bearings on the frame pieces 53, es enases withthe under side of the ratchet 69, and through the action of the pawl 81the shaft or is held against a return movement as the arm 6'! isreturned to its original position for the pawl 68 to engage with anothertooth on ratchet 69.

The upward feed of the elevator is controlled by the action of thedetector finger 61 through the following mechanism. The detector finger61 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) which engages the shaft 58 is pivotally mounted ona yoke 83 at the pivot point 84. One end of this yoke is provided with aspring 85 bearing against the detector finger adjacent the forward endthereof, and the other end of said yoke 83 is provided with an adjustingscrew 86 which bears against the rear end of the detector finger. Theyoke 83 is mounted on a sleeve 87 (Fig. 3), this sleeve being looselymounted on shaft 82. The other end of the sleeve 87 carries an arm 88,the forward end of which is provided with a pin 89 that bears againstthe under side of a lever The lever 90 is loosely mounted on the stud72. The other end of the lever 90 terminates in a hook 90 which isadapted to engage with a pin 91. The pin 91 is mounted in the lever 67and is engaged by the hook end of lever 90 when the arm 67 has beenrocked to raise the stack of blanks. When the pin 91 is engaged by thehook 90, the arm 6'? is held against its return movement, which returnmovement is normally effected by a spring 92 (Figs. 3 and e) which tendsto hold the cam roller 71 of the lever '71 against the cam '73 duringits rotation to actuate the lever or arm 67 when the hook so isdisengaged therefrom. When the stack of cartons has been raised to apredetermined height in engagement with the feed roller 5'7 so that thedesired pressure between the feed roller 57 and the stack of blanks hasbeen obtained, the detector finger 61 which rests on the feed roll shaft58 is actuated thereby to rock the sleeve 87, swing the lever 88 on saidsleeve, and through contact of the pin 89 with the lever 90 to raise thehook end 90' of the latter so that it will engage the pin 91 and holdthe lever 67 against movement. The position of the top of the stack ofcartons is determined by the pressure required between the feed roll 57and the top of the stack for the successive and uniform feeding of theblanks therefrom. This position may be varied and adjusted under varyingoperating conditions by means of the adjusting screw 86 in the yoke 83.

A block 93 (Fig. 4) is adjustably mounted on the yoke 59 and is moved bymeans of an adjusting screw or carried by a bracket 59 secured to theyoke 59. The block 93 carries a separator plate 95 located directlybeneath the feed roller 57. This separator plate 95 is adjusted withrelation to the feed roller 57 so that it will allow the passage of thetopmost carton through the space between the feed roll and the separatorplate, but will not allow the passage of two cartons through theopening. The feed roller 57, as has been previously stated, rotatedintermittently and at the proper time to feed the topmost carton fromthe stack. The rotation of the feed roller is obtained in the followingmanner.

A gear 96 is mounted fast on the continuously rotating shaft and mesheswith a gear 97 mounted loose on shaft 58. Gear 97 carries a toothedclutch member 98. The gear 97 and the clutch member 98 are thereforeconstantly rotated by the driving action of the gear 96. A clutch sleeve99 slidably mounted on shaft 58 carries a toothed clutch member 100adapted to engage at the proper time with the clutch 98. The sleeve 99is free to slide lengthwise on the shaft 58 and carries twodiametrically opposite keys, one of which is shown at 101 (Fig. 4).These keys engage a driving disk 102 mounted fast on shaft 58. When thesleeve 99 is moved lengthwise of the shaft to engage the clutch 180 withthe clutch 98, the clutch 100 is rotated, together with the sleeve 99,and through the engagement of the keys 191 with the disk 102 the shaft58 and the feed roller 57 are caused to rotate. The sleeve 99 isprovided with a yoke 1G3 loosely mounted on the sleeve. The yoke 103 isengaged by the fork end of a p-ivotally mounted lever 104 carried by abracket or other suitable support (not shown). The lever 10a is attachedto one end of a connecting rod 106, the other end of the connecting rodbeing connected to one arm of a bell crank cam lever 107 pivoted at 108to a stationary part of the machine. The other arm of the bell cranklever 107 carries a roll 189 which bears against a cam 110 which isactuated to operate the clutch sleeve 99 at suitable times to drive thefeed roller 57 and so feed the topmost blank from the stack. In order toinsure that more than one blank will not be fed from the stack at thesame time through the action of the feed roller 57, the roller 57 isrotated only a sufficient amount to partially withdraw the topmostcarton blank from the stack. Additional means are provided to withdrawthe blank completely from the stack after the rotation of the feedroller 57 has stopped. This means is preferably constructed as follows:

Mounted in suitable bearin s on the frame pieces 53' and 5% is a shaft111 (Fig. 1) which carries two arms 112 mounted fast thereon. The outerends of the arms 112 are provided with bearings for a shaft 113. Shaft118 carries two rollers 114.. Directly beneath the shaft 113 is a shaft115 also carried in bearings in the frame pieces 53 and 54. Shaft 115carries a spiral pinion 115 which meshes with a spiral gear 117 carriedon the continuously driven time shaft 74. Through the action of thesetwo spiral gears the shaft'115 is constantly rotated. Shaft 115 alsocarries a spur gear 118 that is adapted to mesh with a spur gear 119mounted on the shaft 113 and through the action of these spur gears theshaft 113 is inter ittently driven from the shaft 115. The shaft 115 isfurther provided with rollers 120 located directly beneath the rollers11 1 on the shaft 113. The shaft 111 is provided at its outer end with acam lever 121 which carries a roller 122 that bears against a cam 123mounted on the time shaft 74. When the roller 122 rides off the highpart of the cam 123, the shaft 111 is rocked slightly so that the rolls11s are lifted and held out of engagement with the rolls 120 by thespring 124 After the feed roll 57 has partially withdrawn thetopmostblank from the stack, the

lank is advanced to a position between the rollers 114 and 120. When therotation of the feed roll 57 ceases, the shaft 111 is rocked by the highpart of the cam 123, and the shaft 113 and the arms 112 descend so thatthe rollers 11% are lowered and driven by gears 118, 119. The partiallywithdrawn blank is thus gripped between the rollers 11 1 and 120 whichcomplete its withdrawal from the stack.

Mounted on shaft 115 are tape pulleys which carry tapes 126 adapted toreceive the blank flatwise from roller 57 and. convey the blank flatwisealong the machine to a turning roll hereinafter referred to. A shaft127, journalled in suitable bearings on the frame pieces 53' and 5 1',is provided with tape pulleys 128 located above the tape pulleys 125.The pulleys 128 are located directly in line with pulleys and areprovided with tapes 129. The tapes 126 and 129 also pass over pulleys126 and 129 respectively, which are fixed on shafts 126 and 129journalled in suitable bearings on the frame pieces and 54. The upperrun of tapes 129 and the lower run of tapes 126 lie in contact with eachother and the carton blank is fed between these tapes it is advanced bythe feed rollers 114 and 129. The continuously driven shaft 115 isprovided with a sprocket 130. Mounted loose on rock shaft 111 is a gear31 and a sprocket 132. The gear 131 and the sprocket 132 are fastenedtogether and the sprockets and 132 are connected by a driving chain132'. The gear 131 meshes with a gear 133 mounted fast on the shaft 127.The shaft 127 is therefore driven continuously through the action of thesprockets 138 and 132 and the meshing of the gears 131 and 133.

It has been found that the rubber roll 57 becomes coated with fibers anddust from the feed-- ing of the blanks, which tends to reduce thefriction of the surface of the roller and to impair the feeding action.A brush is provided which is continuously driven and which bears lightlyagainst the surface of the rubber roll and keeps the roll free fromthese particles of paper. This brush is indicated at 13 1 (Figs. 1, 2and 4) and is mounted on a shaft 135 carried in suitable bear-- ings onthe frame pieces 53 and 51. The shaft 135 is provided with a sprocketwheel 136 (Fig. 2) and the shaft 127 carries a sprocket 137 (Fig. 4)

and through a chain connection 137 from the sprocket 137 to the sprocket13 the shaft 135 and the brush 134 are positively rotated.

After the blank has been fed from the stack and has been advancedforward between the feed tapes 126 and 129, it is carried forward intocontact with fingers 138 (Figs. 1, 1 4a) which stop the movement of theblank at a first registering position in order to get it in timedrelation with the machine. These stop fingers 138 are withdrawn from thefront of the blank at the proper time to allow the tapes to advance theblank into a second registering position. The fingers 138 are mounted onrock shaft 139 carried in suitable hearings on the frame pieces 53 and54. The outer end of shaft 139 carries an arm 1410, the upper end ofwhich is attached to a connecting rod 1 11. The other end of this rod141 is connected with a link 148 attached to the upper end of a camlever 142 (Fig. 4a) which is pivoted at 1 12 on a stationary part of themachine and operated by a cam 143 mounted on shaft 74 and a spring 1413having one extremity secured to the lower end of lever 142 and anopposits extremity secured to a stationary part of no the machine.Through the above connections the stop fingers 138 are moved to allowthe carton blank to be fed forward through the action of the feed tapesinto position to be engaged by stop fingers l i-5 at the second.registering position. The feed tapes and carton blank thereon may befurther supported, as by guides (not shown) secured to the frame pieces53 and 54 between the same. Stop fingers 1&5, at the second registeringposition, are mounted on a shaft 1&5 carried in bearings on frame pieces53 and 54'. The outer end of the shaft 146 carries an arm 1 17, oneextremity of which is attached to the link 1 18. The other end of thelink 148 being attached to the upper end of the cam lever 142, the shaft146 and the fingers 145 therefore operated from the cam 143 at the timeas the fingers 138.

After the blank has been fed into position against the stop fingers 145,it is side registered with respect to a flap bender 149 (Fig. 5) and aturning roll 150 that act respectively to bend up the side sealing flapC (Fig. 2) of the blank and turn the blank so that it can be fed fromthe ta es to the carton making machine. The flap bender and the turningroll, and the side registering mechanism associated therewith, may be ofany suitable construction, such, for example, as disclosed in my PatentNo. 1,674,921 above referred to, but since these devices form no part ofthe present invention, it is unnecessary to describe the same in detail.

Mounted on shaft 146 are two arms 151 (Fig. 1a) which carry on theirouter ends rollers 152 located directly above a pair of the carriertapes. After the side sealing flap has been bent over, and at the propertime in the operation of the machine, t e shaft 146 is rocked to movethe stop members 145 out of engagement with the front edge of the cartonblank. To insure the positive movement of the carton blank when the stopfingers 1 15 are disengaged therefrom, the movement of the shaft 146causes the rollers 152 to swing downward into contact with the surfaceof a pair of the upper tapes 129 to press the same firmly against thecarton blank, ther by causing the tapes to positively grip the blankbetween them insure that the carton blank will be carried forward by thetapes to the turning roll 15o without any slippage between the tapes andthe blank. The turning roll 150, as above pointed out, receives theblank from the tapes 126, 129 and acts to turn said blank angularlythereto so that it may be fed into the carton making machine and wrappedor folded around a form thereof to produce a tubular container. Theturning roll 150 is fixed on a shaft 150a journalled in suitablebearings on the frame pieces 53" and driven through the medium of abevel gear 1501) (Fig. ea) rigidly secured on shaft 7% and meshing witha bevel gear 1500 that is fixed on shaft 150a.

The blank feeding mechanism is set into operation, to feed the blanks asabove described, by operating the clutch lever 33 to engage the clutchring 32 with the clutch drum so that the source of power is connectedtherethrough with the various movable parts of said mechanism. Theclinch 30, 32 may also be employed to control the operation of thecarton making machine in the manner disclosed in my Patent No.1,674,;21. When stopping the operation of the carton making machine, itis desirable to first stop the feed of blanks from the stack and toallow further operation of the carton making machine to complete thefolding and sealing of the various blanks that are in processtherethrough. This stopping of the blank feed is preferably effected inthe following manner. Mounted on a stud 153 on the rocking yoke 59 is anarm 15% (Fig. 4:) which is adapted to be swung into engagement with thefront face of the clutch lever 10 1 which operates the clutch forstarting and stopping the feed roller 5'7. A connecting rod 155 isattached at one end to the arm 154, the other end of which is attachedto an arm 156 mounted on a shaft 157 journalled in suitable bearings onthe machine framework. A lever 158 is mounted on shaft 15'? by means ofwhich the shaft 157 may be rocked manually when so desired. An arm 159(Figs. 1 and 1a) is mounted on shaft 157 and provided with a notch 160with which a spring 161 engages in one position of the shaft 157. In thenormal operation of the machine, the arm 15 i is swung forward so thatthe upper end does not engage the lever 10a, and the lever 10 1 isallowed to move freely under the action of the spring 162. When it isdesired to stop the operation of the feed of blanks from the stack, theshaft 157 is rocked by hand and through t. e connecting mechanism, thearm 15 1 is moved into a position for its upper end to engage the faceof the clutch l ver 104 and hold the lever 164 and the clutch part 100disengaged from the clutch part 98 against the action of the spring 162.Disengagement of the clutch 98, 180 through the arm 15%- stops thefeeding action of the roller 57 and the further delivery of blanks fromthe stack. Through this means, however, the operation of feeding, gluingand folding of the successive blanks previously fed from the stack maybe continued without the loss of any carton blanks which have beenpartially operated upon, as would be the case if some means were notprovided to stop the feed of bl nks from the stack into the cartonmaking machine.

It will obviously appear that blanks 'of various types could be handledin the blank feeding mechanism and fed directly from the tapes 126, 129to any desired instrumentality or that various types of blanks handledin the elevator could be fed directly therefrom by the roller 5'! to anymachine or mechanism to which it may be desired to feed the blanks. itis therefore to be expressly understood that while one embodiment of theinvention has been illustrated and described herein, the invention isnot limited to said embodiment or otherwise than by the terms of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a blank feeding mechanism of the type having a stack or pileelevator, a continuously driven power shaft having a gear fixed thereon,a weighted yoke or the like loosely mounted on said power shaft andcarrying a feed roller shaft, a gear loosely mounted on the feed rollershaft and meshing with the first named gear, a feed roller fixed on thefeed roller shaft and continuously engaging the top of the stack or pileunder pressure produced by the weight of said ii loo means adapted to beengaged with and disengaged from said lever to control the operation ofthe pawl and ratchet device, and a detector device controllingtheoperation of said means and operated by engagement with said bodilymovable shaft.

3. In com"ination, a drive shaft, a swinging support or yoke looselymounted on said drive shaft, a driven shaft journalied on said supportor yoke and geared to the drive shaft, me e on the driven shaft forfeeding blanks or like, a clutch controlling the drive for the drivshaft from said drive shaft, a pivotally mounts: lever for operatingsaid clutch, and manual actuated means controlling the movement of leverand the operation of said clutch.

a. In combination, a stack or pile support, mechanism for elevating thesame including a pawl and ratchet device and a pivotally mounted pawlcarrying lever, a pivotally mounted detent adapted to be engaged withand disengaged from a stop on said lever to thereby control theoperation of the pawl and ratchet device, pivotally mountedintermittently operated sheet feeding means engaged with the top of thestack and movable bodily in opposite directions by movement of the stackand feeding of sheets therefrom respectively, and a pivotally mounteddetector engaged by and movable with said sheet feeding means andadapted to operate said detent.

5. In combination, a stack or pile support, mechanism for elevating thesame including a pawl and ratchet device and a pivotally mounted pawlcarrying lever, a stub shaft, a normally rocking lever mounted on saidstub shaft and connected with the pawl carrying lever to thereby actuatethe pawl and ratchet device, a detent pivotally mounted on said stubshaft and adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from the pawlcarrying lever to control its operation by said normally rocking lever,means engaging the top of the stack operated in one direction bymovement of the stack and in the opposite direction by the feeding offof sheets therefrom, and detector mechanism movable by said means andcontrolling engagement of said detent wit and disengagement of the samefrom said pawl carrying lever.

t. In combination, a continuously driven power shaft, a weighted supportor yoke pivotally mounted on said shaft, a driven feed roller shaftjournalled on the weighted support or yoke, means for driving the feedroller shaft intermittently from the first named shaft, and a feedroller fixed on the feed roller shaft to rotate therewithintermittently, said feed roller being continuously maintained inengagement with the top a stack or pile of sheets under pressure exertedby the weighted support or yoke and adapted to feed off a sheet from thetop of the stack at each operation of the feed roller.

7. In combination, pile elevating mechanism, a feed roller automaticallyrotated intermittently in one direction only and adapted to feed offsheets successively the top of the pile, means carrying the feed rollerto maintain the same in engagement the pile and providing for raisingand lowering movements of said roller in accordance with variations inthe height of said pile, a detent movable in op osite directions intoand out of engagement with a part of the pile elevating mechanism tothereby control the operation thereof, a lever for moving said detent inone direction and providing for movement thereof in the oppositedirection, and means for rocking said lever engaging the shaft of saidrollor to be raised and lowered thereby in accordance with the raisingand lowering movements of the roller.

8. In combination, pile elevating mechanism, a detent movable up anddown to control the operation of said mechanism, a feed roller rotatedatically predetermined intervals in one n only and engaging the top ofthe pile ed sheets successively therefrom, pivotalted means carrying thefeed roller and raising and lowering movements l and continuouslyengaging the connections between said defor raising and lowering inaccordance with the raising and lowering movements of the former.

9. In combination, pile elevating mechanism, a pawl and ratchet devicefor operating the same, a pivoted detent adapted to swing up and downand control the operation of the pawl and ratchet device, anintermittently driven feed roller normally rotated in one direction onlyand engaging the top of the pile to feed off sheets successivelytherefrom, a pivotally mounted yoke carrying the feed rolier andproviding for swinging movement thereof up and down in accordance withvariations in height of the pile, a pivoted detector mountedindependently of and arranged to swing up and do with the feed rollerand continuously engaging the shaft thereof, a lever for swinging saiddetent up and down, and connections between said lever and said detectorwhereby the two are swung up and down in unison.

10. In combination, pile elevating mechanism, a pawl and ratchet devicefor operating the same, a pawl carrying lever adapted to be swungautomatically in opposite directions to engage the pawl with the ratchetand thereby operate the pile elevating mechanism, a pivoted detentmovable into and out of engagement with said lever to control themovement thereof and the operation of the pile elevating mechanism, anintermittently driven feed roller normally rotated in one direction onlyand engaging the top of the pile to feed off sheets successivelytherefrom, a pivotally mounted yoke carrying said feed roller providingfor swinging movement of the latter up and down in accordance withvariations in height of the pile, an element for engaging the detentwith the pawl carrying lever and providing for disengagement of saiddetent therefrom, a detector movable up and down with the feed rollerand continuously engaging the shaft thereof, and connections between thedetector and said element for operating the latter in accordance withthe movements of the former.

11. In combination, pile elevating mechanism, a pawl ratchet device foroperating the same, a lever spring operated in one direction and camoperated in the opposite direction, a pivotally mounted pawl carryingelement connected with said lever and rocked thereby to engage the pawlwith the ratchet and operate the pile elevating mechanism, a pivoteddetent movable into and out of engagement with the pawl carrying elementto thereby control the operation of said pile elevating mechanism, anintermittently driven feed roller normally rotated in one direction onlyand engaging the top of the pile to feed off sheets successivelytherefrom, a pivotally mounted support for the feed roller maintainingpressure of the same on the pile and providing for swinging movement ofthe feed roller up and down in accordance with variations in height ofsaid pile, a shaft, a sleeve rotatably mounted on said shaft, a detectorpivotally mounted on the sleeve and engaging the feed roller shaft toswing up and down with the latter and the feed roller, means for rockingthe sleeve in accordance with swingmg movement of the detector, and alever fixed on the sleeve to rock therewith and adapted to swing thedetent into engagement with the pawl carrying element and provide forrelease of said detent therefrom.

12. In a blank feeding mechanism of the type having a pile elevatingmechanism, a feed roller for separating blanks one after another fromthe top of the pile, a driving shaft for said roller, means for mountingsaid shaft and roller for vertical movement whereby said roller iscontinuously in engagement with the top of the pile, a detector fingerpivotally mounted above the pile independently of said roller and shaftwith one end thereof normally resting upon s id shaft, said finger beingadapted to follow the movements of said shaft downwardly due to theinfiuence of gravity and upwardly due to engagement by said shaft, andmeans also mounted above the pile and actuated by the movement ofsaid'detector finger in following the vertical position of said shaftfor controlling the operation of said pile elevating mechanism.

13. In a 'blank feeding mechanism of the type having a pile elevatingmechanism, a feed roller for separating blanks one after another fromthe top of the pile, a driving shaft for said roller, means for mountingsaid shaft and roller for vertical movement whereby said roller iscontinuously in engagement with the top of the pile, a detector fingerpivotally mounted above the pile independently of said feed roller andshaft with one end thereof normally resting upon said shaft, meansactuated by the movement of said detector finger in following thevertical position of said shaft for controlling the operation of saidpile elevating mechanism, and means for adjusting the position of saiddetector finger relatively to said shaft whereby the height of the pileat which said pile elevating mechanism is operated is varied.

14. In a blank feeding mechanism of the type having a stack or pileelevator, a continuously driven power shaft supported in fixed bearingsabove said stack, a weighted yoke member pivotally mounted on the powershaft and carrying a driven shaft, means for driving the driven shaftintermittently in one direction only from the power shaft, and a feedroller fixed on the driven shaft to rotate intermittently therewith,said feed roller being located between the weighted portion of said yokemember and the power shaft whereby said feed roller is continuouslyengaged under pressure with the top of the stack.

15. In a blank feeding mechanism of the type having a stack or pileelevator, a continuously driven power shaft supported in fixed bearingsabove said stack, weighted means loosely mounted on the power shaft, anintermittently driven feed roller carried by the weighted means, saidroller continuously engaging the stack or pile under pressure producedby the weighted means, means also carried by the weighted means andcooperating with said roller for preventing the feeding of more than onesheet from said stack at each operation of the roller, and means fordriving the feed roller intermittently in one direction only from saidpower shaft.

16. In a blank feeding mechanism of the type having a stack or pileelevator, a continuously driven power shaft supported in fixed bearingsabove said stack, a weighted yoke or the like loosely mounted on saidpower shaft and carrying a feed roller shaft, a feed roller fixed on thefeed roller shaft and continuously engaging the top of the stack or pileunder pressure produced by the weight of said yoke, and means adapted tointermittently connect the feed roller shaft in driven relation with thepower shaft at predetermined intervals whereby the feed roller isintermittently driven in one direction only from the power shaft andfeeds off a sheet at each operation of said roller.

17. In a blank feeding mechanism of the type having a supply of cartonblanks, a continuously driven power shaft supported in fixed bearingsabove said supply, driven means for separating the carton blanks oneafter another from said supply, means intermittently operative forconnecting the driven means with said power shaft for driving said meansin one direction only, and weighted means freely mounted on said powershaft and creating a relatively high and continuous pressure of thedriven means on said supply of carton blanks to insure separation of thecarton blanks by said driven means regardless of the condition orconfiguration of the adjacent surface of the supply.

18. In a blank feeding mechanism of the type having means for elevatinga supply of carton blanks, a driven feed roller for separating thecarton blanks one after another from the top of said supply, a driveshaft supported above said stack and normally rotating the driven feedroller intermittently and in one direction only, and weighted meansfreely mounted on said drive shaft and urging the driven feed rollerforwardly and downwardly with relatively high and continuous pressure onthe top of the supply of carton blanks, said feed roller being locatedbetween the weighted portion of said weighted means and the drive shaftwhereby separation of the carton blanks by said feed roller is insuredregardless of the condition or configuration of the adjacent surface ofthe supply.

GEORGE A. ROBINSON.

